Serious boss ladies get into it with Paper Bottles, Fake Wine Trains, and why stickies rule, plus a grenache-to-lamb pairing on The Real Wine Show (S8E4)

Special thanks to our sponsor Gabriel Group (gabrielgrp.com) for helping us make another great episode!

The show opens with intros to panelists Elisa Weber-Saintin (Little Guy Wine Company, celebrating 19 years; critic of predictable three-Michelin-star dining), Anna Nolan (Russian-born sommelier and co-owner of Vino and Vibes in Utica, aiming to “un-snob” wine), and Kristen Jonna (Michigan wine family royalty and owner of Vinology in Ann Arbor; she follows the moon!). In news debates, they discuss the viability of low-carbon “Frugal Pack” cardboard bottles versus glass, and a (fake) story about Japan’s underground wine trains, prompting talk of Michigan wine trains. Glass checks feature wines including Los Malditos Tempranillo, a Cremant de Loire sparkling wine, and a Slovenian pét-nat. The Wine Cipher note matches Château d’Yquem. On the Grape to Plate segment, Chef Jason Berthold pairs a 2022 McLaren Vale Grenache from Worlds Apart with grilled lamb loin crusted with black trumpet mushroom powder and pomegranate molasses plus chickpeas and grilled onions, sharing a grilling meal-prep hack. An emotive blind tasting generating Sound of Music vibes is revealed as a 2021 Lulu “BB1” Chardonnay/Savagnin blend from the Jura, and a 1975 Rivesaltes dessert wine stands out; Kristen takes home the big win!

00:00 Welcome and Sponsor

01:01 Meet the Panel

02:10 Elisa on Dining Hype

05:09 Anna Unsnobs Wine

07:54 Kristen’s Wine Royalty

10:40 Glass Check Tasting

17:36 Debate Paper Bottles

24:30 Fake News: Wine Trains

31:34 Wine Cipher Challenge

36:12 Dessert Wine Revival

38:22 Grape to Plate

38:44 Chef tastes

40:18 Food Pairing Pivot

42:01 Grilled Lamb Plan

43:41 Mushroom Pomegranate Crust

46:00 Chickpea Ragu Sides

48:09 Bottle Reveal: Grenache

49:07 Practical Hack: Grill Extras

50:22 Second Glass Check

54:20 Somm Slam Event Plug

59:05 Emotive Blind Tasting

01:06:39 Unveiling Lulu BB1

01:08:13 Wines of the Show

01:09:47 Final Scores; Farewell

Champagne Semantics, Vibe Vocabulary, and Howell Mountain Vineyards Zin Pairing on The Real Wine Show (S8E3)

In episode three of season eight of The Real Wine Show, the hosts thank sponsor Gabriel Group (gabrielgrp.com) and introduce panelists Arturo (Mexico-born wine enthusiast pursuing WSET Level 3 with the hot take that there’s no bad champagne), Taylor Johnson (wine director/sommelier in Ann Arbor who rejects seasonal drinking), and journalist/filmmaker Mark Kurlyandchik (arguing wine jargon turns off new drinkers).

In glass checks they discuss Lambrusco, a white Châteauneuf-du-Pape, and a Côte des Bar vintage Champagne. A debate explores replacing technical wine terms with “vibe vocabulary,” emphasizing meeting drinkers where they are while preserving expertise. Another story covers biodynamics and EMF-shielding products, leading to discussion of spirituality, labeling, and consumer information. Wine Cipher and an emotive blind tasting follow, plus Chef Jason Berthold’s Grape to Plate pairing a 2019 Howell Mountain Vineyards Zinfandel with charcoal-grilled dry-aged ribeye, beef-tallow potatoes, and black-garlic chimichurri; the blind wine is revealed as 2019 Von Winning Sauvignon Blanc, and Arturo wins the game!

00:00 Welcome and Sponsor

01:10 Meet Arturo Champagne Take

03:49 Meet Taylor No Seasons

06:44 Meet Mark Storytelling

09:04 Glass Check What’s Pouring

12:52 Vibe Versus Vocabulary

22:18 Biodynamics and Spirituality

31:04 Wine Cipher Tasting Game

35:55 Grape to Plate Setup

36:46 Color and Aromatics

37:26 Tannin and Fruit Structure

38:18 Red Wine Temperature Talk

40:47 Grill Pairing Vision

41:40 Dry Aged Beef Breakdown

44:17 Salt and Seasoning Sidebar

46:04 Wine Opens Up Notes

47:26 Black Garlic Chimichurri

50:19 Bottle Reveal Zinfandel

52:21 Live Fire Cooking Hack

53:37 Emotive Blind Tasting Returns

58:57 Reveal Von Winning Sauvignon

59:44 Wines of the Show and Wrap

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Stop playing it safe—it's time for Michigan to find its unique identity through small, thoughtful production. The "Grape to Plate" segment is a masterclass on slow-rendering duck breast with lavender, and we learn the tells of "tasting room theatre".

In episode two of season eight of The Real Wine Show, hosts Chaad Thomas and Matt Kuhr announce show sponsor Gabriel Group (www.gabrielgrp.com) and introduce panelists Alan Collins (Michigan vineyard project advocating risk-taking for a uniquely Michigan wine identity), wine traveler/judge Bobby Frank, and chef/winemaker Jason Berthold (promoting aging high-acid white wines). They discuss three news topics: billionaire winery acquisitions and their impact on wine’s “soul,” proposed 2026 U.S. ingredient-label transparency and consumer reactions to additives, and AI-driven wine recommendations in tasting rooms versus human sommeliers. During glass checks they taste wines including aged Muscadet and other bottles. The new “Grape to Plate” segment sees Chef Jason conjure a slow-rendered duck breast and swiss chard pan sauce from blind tasting a 2022 Famille Gras Côtes du Rhône. The show includes a Wine Cipher game, the popular emotive blind tasting (revealed as an Italian Ciliegiolo), and ends with Jason taking home the prize!

00:00 Welcome and Sponsor

01:05 Meet Alan Collins

03:42 Meet Bobby Frank

06:02 Meet Chef Jason

07:27 Glass Check

09:54 Billionaires Buying Wineries

15:51 Ingredient Label Transparency

21:14 AI Sommelier Debate

27:28 Grape to Plate Pairing

37:27 Duck Resting Plan

37:49 Chard Wine Pan Sauce

38:41 Jam And Duck Sauce

39:42 Wine Reveal Cote Du Rhone

41:51 Practical Hack: Low And Slow

42:44 Blind Notes Game Begins

42:54 Big Red Guess Chateau Pavie

45:39 Second Cipher Debate

49:56 Riesling Notes Too Easy

52:43 Glass Check #2

55:13 Michigan Wine Collaborative Events Update

56:33 Emotive Blind Tasting

01:03:12 Reveal Italian ciliegiolo

01:05:15 Favorite Wines And Scores

01:07:50 Final Wrap And Thanks

May is Michigan Wine Month:

Visit www.michiganwinecollaborative.com for event details.